Mehul Patel

GWR System Program Manager

Orange County Water District (OCWD)

Mehul Patel has been with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) for fourteen years. He is currently the GWR System Program Manager for OCWD. Mehul is in charge of overseeing all treatment processes associated with the 70 mgd Groundwater Replenishment System Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF). The AWPF is the largest indirect potable reuse plant in the world including the largest reverse osmosis system in the western hemisphere at 70 mgd.

Mehul was formerly in charge of the day-to-day operation of all district applied research treatment processes including microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet (UV) systems. He has extensive experience in pilot, demonstration and full-scale operation of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis technologies, and advanced oxidation systems. He also worked as a process engineer assisting in troubleshooting for operation of OCWD’s renowned Water Factory 21 facility. Mehul’s expertise is in the use advanced technologies for water reclamation and recycling. He has written, presented, and published a number of technical papers relating to the use of membrane and ultraviolet light technologies for wastewater reclamation.

Mehul received his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California State Polytechnic University Pomona and his and Masters of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California State University Long Beach. He is a registered professional civil engineer in the state of California. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water Works Association (including a member of its Membrane Process Committee), Water Environment Federation (including a member of its Disinfection Committee), American Membrane Technology Association (including serving currently on its board), WateReuse Association and is past president of the Southwest Membrane Operator Association.